'Why was it a failure?' Former FBI investigator clashes with sheriff at Wetterling release

Al Garber speaks following release of investigative files in St. Cloud.
Saint Cloud Times

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Former FBI Investigator Al Garber gives his views on statements by Stearns County Sheriff Don Gudmundson following a press conference Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Stearns County Law Enforcement Center in St. Cloud. (Photo: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)Buy Photo

Garber questioned Gudmundson's experience. "Has he ever worked a case of this magnitude?" he asked.

He also questioned how Gudmundson approached his review of the case.

"I don't know what his (sheriff's) motive is in this presentation, frankly, but I think that there are some important things you need to know to make this a positive experience," Garber said. "When he began the presentation saying it went off the rails, that was a clue to me. ... He has his beliefs ... and he was gonna make it fit the facts in this case and I think that was wrong."

Garber said the impression Gudmundson gave of the investigation was wrong.

"Why was it a failure?" Garber asked. "We had no evidence."

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Former FBI investigator Al Garber speaks to the media following a press conference on the release of files in the Jacob Wetterling case Thursday, Sept. 20, in St. Cloud. (Photo: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)

Actions taken in the case, he said, were joint decisions. Gudmundson wouldn't know about the case, Garber said, because he wasn't there.

"It really hurts and it's not true," said Garber, who also said investigators did not disregard Heinrich. "We didn't let (Heinrich) go."

Former FBI investigator Al Garber talks with Jerry Wetterling following a press conference on the release of documents in the Jacob Wetterling case Thursday, Sept. 20, in St. Cloud. (Photo: Dave Schwarz, dschwarz@stcloudtimes.com)

Follow Clairissa Baker on Twitter @clairissabaker and email her at cmbaker@stcloudtimes.com.